Diazo copying machine paper supply roll handling

ABSTRACT

Fresh rolls of paper are loaded in a diazo copying machine by placing each new roll in a mandrel assembly having a shaft provided with wheels which are placed on downwardly inclined rails that guide the assembly into place when the wheels automatically are locked, and from which the paper is drawn while continuously braked until the roll is near exhaustion whereupon an electric switch is automatically operated, stopping further operation pending replacement. A paper tearoff device is also provided to assure straight leading edge for the paper fed into the machine from each fresh roll.

United States Patent Inventor Arnold G. Llmer Endicott, N.Y.

Appl. No. 838,412

Filed July 2, 1969 Patented Sept. 7, 1971 Assignee GAF Corporttion New York, N.Y.

DIAZO COPYING MACHINE PAPER SUPPLY ROLL HANDLING 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 225/89, 225/38, 242/5553, 242/57, 242/586, 242/75.4l Int. Cl B65h 19/10,

B26f 3/00 Field of Search 242/58. 58.6, 55.53, 75.4, 75.41, 57; 225/89, 91, 46, 87, 38

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1890 Fowler 242/75.4l

1,451,579 3/1923 Lazaga 242/7541 1,655,226 1/1928 Higgins 242/586 2,508,566 5/1950 Dunton 242/586 2,843,688 7/1958 Masem.. 242/57X 3,474,978 10/1969 K1058 242/58 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant ExaminerMilt0n Gerstein AltomeysGeorge L. Tone, Walter G. Hensel and M.

Smolowitz ABSTRACT: Fresh rolls of paper are loaded in a diazo copying machine by placing each new roll in a mandrel assembly having a shaft provided with wheels which are placed on downwardly inclined rails that guide the assembly into place when the wheels automatically are locked, and from which the paper is drawn while continuously braked until the roll is near exhaustion whereupon an electric switch is automatically operated, stopping further operation pending replacement. A paper tearoff device is also provided to assure straight leading edge for the paper fed into the machine from each fresh roll.

ELSOBWM PATENTED SEP TIBTI ATTORNEY DllAZO COPYING MACHINE PAPER SUPPLY ROLL HANDLING This invention relates to diazo copying machines and more particularly to paper supply roll handling mechanisms therefor.

ART PRIOR TO THE INVENTION It was common prior art practice to provide supply paper roll devices for permitting the paper to be drawn from the roll which turns in accordance with such withdrawal on a simple shaft, sometimes with tapered end chucks, and sometimes on supporting rollers located under the supply roll. It has also been proposed to provide a brake on the supply roll for preventing the latter from overrunning. However, there remains much in the way of needed improvements in this art.

THE INVENTION The present invention aims to supply such improvements by providing a simple, efficient, and effective mechanism for loading paper supply rolls in a copying machine, and for handling the initial threading, and stopping of the paper feed when the roll is about to become exhausted.

According to the invention, guide rails having downwardly inclined medical reaches are mounted on the inner sides ofthe side panels ofthe housing of the machine in parallel relation to each other. The paper supply roll is placed in a mandrel assembly having a shaft provided with peripherally grooved wheels that are adapted to run on said rails to locate the supply roll in proper feeding position under the influence of gravity. As the wheels roll into such position, they activate self locking keepers which automatically secure them in such place, whereupon they act as earings for the shaft as the latter is turned by withdrawal of the paper from the supply roll thereon.

The paper supply roll is continuously braked as the paper is withdrawn; and when the paper on the roll is about to be exhausted, operation of the machine is automatically stopped until the roll is replaced, by an electric switch having an arm which rests on one side of each roll and senses the amount of paper left on the roll as the latter operates.

A device for providing a straight edge on the paper first drawn from the supply roll is also provided which comprises a tearing blade or cutter which is used in tearing the leading portion of the paper therefrom prior to feeding it into the machine.

Advantages of the invention thus include avoidance of gumming of the machine due to ragged leading edges, as well as due to the feeding of short lengths at the expiration of the supply roll. Also loading is easy and foolproof, requiring only the removal of the mandrel assembly and replacement with a fresh roll, and setting the wheels on the rails, whereupon the assembly moves smoothly into proper position where the wheels are automatically locked, and then act as bearings for the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF DRAWINGS FIG. l is a fragmentary view mainly in side elevation of the interior ofa copying machine showing the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section taken on line 2-2, of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF INVENTION As shown in the drawing, the automatic diazo copying machine it) is provided with a housing 12 having spaced side panels 14. A plurality of diazo paper supply rolls i6, 16 are located between the panels M for feeding paper 18, llfl to the machine lltl as such paper is required in the automatic operation of such machine. Since the mechanisms are similar only one is described in detail below.

The lower roll 16 for example, is carried by a mandrel assembly 29 comprising a shaft 22 having annularly grooved wheels 24 rotatably mounted thereon. Tapered chucks 26 fit into the ends of the hole through the center of the roll 16 and each is held in place by a flange assembly 27 including a disc 23 and collar 30. The collar 30 is secured to the shaft 22 by a thumb screw 32. The wheels 24 are carried by guide rails 34 that are mounted adjacent the inner sides of the panels M by brackets 36, with the medial reaches of the rails 34 in substantially parallel relation with each other. The outer end portions 38 of the rails are turned upwardly, as are the inner end portions 40 thereof. The medial reaches of the rails 34 are inclined downwardly somewhat from the outer to the inner ends thereof, so that the wheels will roll on the rails into final place adjacent the inner side of the inner portions 40, carrying the roll 16 therewith, when the assembly is first loaded in the machine 110.

As the wheels 24 roll into such position, they push forwardly the downwardly hanging portion 42 of a keeper M pivoted to each side panel 14, and the portion 42 then automatically drops into locking position with the corresponding wheel 24, securing the entire assembly in place. At the same time, the roll 16 pushes back a flexible brake 46 in parallel relation with the shaft 22. The brake 46 is held in continuous contact with the back of roll 16 by a weight 52 attached to the lower edge thereof. The arm 4,8 is connected to a microswitch 54l for stopping feed of the paper 18 immediately after trailing edge leaves the mandrel.

Paper is fed between roller 56 and cutter 62 in a manner as shown in the figure, as an example, by the thumb and forefinger. The cutter 62 mounted on arm 64 is held against roller 56, and an electric push button is activated to advance the paper into the machine. The knife 62 is held out of the way during normal paper movement, by a tension spring 68 connected at one end to arm 641- and at the other to panel 14 at 70. in such position the spring 63 urges the arm M against a stop 72.

OPERATION The paper roll 16 is placed on mandrel assembly 20, by removing mandrel assembly 20 from the machine paper com partment, loosening thumb screw 32, removing flange assembly 27, pushing the paper roll lili onto mandrel assembly 20, replacing the flange assembly 27, and tightening thumb screw 32. The paper roll 16 and mandrel assembly 20 are placed on guide rails 34- and pushed into a second location where they are automatically locked. into position by keepers 44. Keepers M function in such a manner that preparatory to removing the mandrel assembly 20 from the machine 10, the keepers 44 are manually turned. Upon withdrawal of the mandrel assembly 20, the keepers 44 are automatically restored to a position which is the position that provides the lock for the mandrel assembly 26.

The wheels 24. provide the means of alignment of the mandrel assembly 20 on the rails 34, effortless movement of the mandrel assembly 20 from position to position on such rails and bearing for the mandrel shaft 22.

Continuous braking of the paper roll 16 is accomplished through friction from the flexible brake 46 of canvas and weight 52 attached thereto. T

The leading edge of the sensitized paper 18 is threaded upwardly between the guide-cutter 62 and rubber covered roller 56 until approximately 6 inches of the paper extends beyond the guide-cutter 62. The guide-cutter 62 is then moved manually to sandwich the paper 18 between the cutter 62 and the rubber covered roller 56. Maintaining reasonable pressure on cutter 62, the paper 118 is then fed into the machine 10 on drive roller 56 by means of a jog switch (not shown) which completes a circuit to momentarily drive the roller 56.

Paper sensing arm 48 rests on the paper roll 16 at all times, moving toward the center of rotation of the roll as the diame ter decreases through paper usage. When the paper roll M is depleted, the paper sensing arm 48 contacts microswitch 54 which completes a control circuit, rendering the roll feed drive inactive thereby making it impossible to lodge short pieces of sensitized paper in the transport system, while at the same time signaling the operator through a light source that the paper supply is depleted.

I claim:

1. In 2! copying machine combination comprising; a housing having spaced side panels; parallel guide rails spaced from the inner sides of said rails being inclined downwardly from the outer to the inner ends thereof which are provided with upturned portions; a mandrel assembly for carrying a paper supply roll, comprising a shaft provided with wheels adapted to run on and be guided by said rails down the inclined length thereof from the inner side of such outer upturned end portion to the inner side of such inner upturned end portion under the influence of gravity; a roller having a rubberlike surface mounted between said panels above the paper supply roll for carrying paper drawn from such roll around a portion of its periphery; means for securing the wheels of said mandrel assembly in place adjacent the upturned end portions of said rails, with the paper supply roll free to turn with said shaft in said wheels which then act as bearings; and a paper tearing blade hinged to said panel for movement toward and away from such peripheral portion of the roller, whereby said blade and panels permit the paper to be severed and serves as a pressure contact for initial paper transport into the machine.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, in which said paper tearing blade is held away from said roller by a spring which urges the blade toward a stop mounted on at least one of the panels. 

1. In a copying machine combination comprising; a housing having spaced side panels; parallel guide rails spaced from the inner sides of said rails being inclined downwardly from the outer to the inner ends thereof which are provided with upturned portions; a mandrel assembly for carrying a paper supply roll, comprising a shaft provided with wheels adapted to run on and be guided by said rails down the inclined length thereof from the inner side of such outer upturned end portion to the inner side of such inner upturned end portion under the influence of gravity; a roller having a rubberlike surface mounted between said panels above the paper supply roll for carrying paper drawn from such roll around a portion of its periphery; means for securing the wheels of said mandrel assembly in place adjacent the upturned end portions of said rails, with the paper supply roll free to turn with said shaft in said wheels which then act as bearings; and a paper tearing blade hinged to said panel for movement toward and away from such peripheral portion of the roller, whereby said blade and panels permit the paper to be severed and serves as a pressure contact for initial paper transport into the machine.
 2. The invention as defined by claim 1, in which said paper tearing blade is held away from said roller by a spring which urges the blade toward a stop mounted on at least one of the panels. 